Rant - HONESTY DOESN'T GET YOU PAID

Some companies don't like critique... understandably.
Others make products I just have to send back and that also doesn't pay the bills.
#honestreviews #guitarreviews #lifeonyoutube
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[@thesash7063]

This is exactly why we love you Henning! I highly appreciate your honesty.. Company’s should appreciate every constructive criticism to improve the product and not to blame the one who is reviewing it.

[@DMSProduktions]

They act like GenZ woketards:'We are never wrong about anything EVER! OUR 'way' is the ONLY way allowed!'

[@edryba4867]

I have a question for you, Henning. Did you mean “QC” (Quality Control) instead of “R&D” (Research and Development”)?

[@RsSquier51]

Keep being honest, some of us appreciate it.

[@ickebins6948]

Hi Hennig, the problem is that everyone wants "honesty" but usually can't handle the truth when it's bad news. I work in quality assurance for industrial electronic products. When there are problems, you're always the a-hole. It doesn't matter whether it's the development department, the production department, the incoming goods department, the shipping department or the customer who has made a mistake, as soon as you speak up, you personally are the problem. It's my job to do this and I get paid for it, but no matter how you do it, it's always wrong. I don't have a solution either but it's probably not possible for me (or you) to "overlook" or ignore such problems. But that's why I love your channel! Thank you.

[@eoinjennings519]

You want truth you can’t handle it 😂

[@fraenkiboii]

That's it! To the point! We all want the truth, but please don't make it uncomfortable for me. "Wash me but don't get me wet".

[@thecustomers7017]

You are a great man for reporting the firing of 300 workers at Fender. Respect!

[@Gloomshimmer]

American company behaviour is way different than German. We have working rights other countries dream of and employers always try to undermine. Youre pregnant? No Problem. Take your time. your ill? No Problem, recover. No you dont have to use a vacation day for it like in murica, you are ill. You get 30 days off meanwhile. you have plenty of Holidays especially in Bavaria etc. in murica you Work 6-7 days because sunday is working day. funny If you think about how religious they are. you get fired? No Problem, you get 1 year 70 percent of your Money so you dont get homeless. Sometimes germans have to reconsider how good some things here are instead of always complaining firing 300 people from one day to another. closing whole facilities....thats pretty common there. nearly 95 percent of murican people got fired once or more in their life. In contrary Germany is extremely big in temporary Work, supportet by politicians. big company love contract workers. No Bad News Like "Volkswagen fired 500 people". No, they just dont ordered them from the temporary work company until they need them. thats a Problem but Lobby is to big and all politician Parties love the concept, because it helds unemployed numbers down. Fender fired 300 people. thats bad. especially in murica where they dont have social parachutes. But in Germany they would just drop 500 temporary workers and noone would care. Look at Tesla or Intel. thats why they want to get here. middle Europe and no bad publicity

[@thecustomers7017]

@@Gloomshimmer I live in Italy and we still have protections, workers' rights and a welfare state, but every year we lose a little piece ...

[@Gman0007]

I come for the guitars, but stay for the fashion.🎉

[@EytschPi42]

High fashion!

[@hanspeters1796]

Stay for the animals.

[@18hot30]

@@EytschPi42 ahem haute couture Henning, Milos Popovic introduced me to your channel, and man, the guy flew under my father who was his examiner back in the 90s/ small world when a German connects a Serb to his Dad's student lol

[@CarsInDimension]

@@EytschPi42 Well, yeah, if someone is really, really high.

[@NielsRiethorst]

This video was paid for by the lawnmower company, super obvious marketing! …(thank you for your honesty mate!)

[@drgearaustralia]

There’s more to it with the Fender situation. Fender is owned by PE money which started exerting more influence and took complete ownership a few years ago. Their purchases of Fender Japan and Fender Australia lead to an immediate decline in local QC as their acceptable yield changed. They booted all those staff in order to pump the balance sheet and replaced swathes of them with lower paid, lower skilled workers. Win win for the owners who want to move the brand on at some point. I refused to stock any Fender brands in my store when I saw the issues that started happening with QC and their onerous dealership requirements. It’s much the same with their amps. They lied to customers about major changes to the Blues Jr amps without informing customers and refuse to fix issues with their amps. Oh, and there are some things service guys like me know about how their service side works and how badly they screw customers. All stuff I’ll be covering in videos soon. Seeing your recent videos covering these topics is great for buyers so they can see some of how the sausage is made.

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

@drgearaustralia I think I know you from somewhere....

[@SFolkes97]

By "PE" I assume you mean private equity. Two of the most filthy words I can think of, and, as I face palm, I should have known! Leo and his employees in Fullerton, back in the day, what would they think of the way their company has morphed? At 71, and once part of a small family business, I have watched the world, and companies, change. Change happens. Profits yada, yada. Of course. But there is an inflection point where things become so pernicious and predatory that everything gets poisoned. That's when private equity cuts and runs, leaving nothing but wreckage behind as they move on to their next victim. Will the snake eat itself?

[@drgearaustralia]

@@BradsGuitarGarage well there was that one night but I think you had too many whiskies.

[@tedmich]

I see taking money from PE as entirely analogous to taking money for a review; there is an implicit quid pro quo. In the case of PE you are committing to an insane return on their investment; you will literally have to STEAL from your customers to make this (near exponential) profit growth. And if you are a paid reviewer/endorser no one wants ANY criticism because you're (essentially) an employee.

[@SFolkes97]

@@tedmich I'm afraid it is much more insidious and, ultimately, evil than that. All across the USA private equity has it's hooks in almost everything: the pension funds of firefighters, teachers and other public employees, as well as hospitals, healthcare, veterinarians, funeral homes - just on and on. People often have no idea, until something (bad) triggers it. It is difficult for example for a pension fund recipient, if they are even aware of the dangers of private equity, to even find out if their pension system has private equity involved. It is the worst kind of predatory capitalism and frankly, it has spread so widely and so deeply, literally like cancer, that I fear it is not reversible.

[@williamadams1105]

Money aside, there should be more people holding companies accountable. Keep up the excellent work! Cheers from Bitburg!

[@vaughnwebbermusic]

I appreciate your honesty. You are the most authentic person on this platform.

[@JDStone20]

THIS!!!!

[@MrJackrockerman]

Agree ..

[@the4thway51]

And the best dressed.

[@davidtomkins4242]

Do people really need another Fender review? They’ve been making exactly the same guitars for 70 years

[@RdamplificationUk1]

I think your observation on the Laney pot issue is exactly what manufacturers should accept and respond to positively too. In that instance , its clearly a weak design element and would ultimately cause a failure since the PCB track connections will deteriorate and break. That's what I would call constructive criticism. It's what makes our products better. As a builder you can ignore those things if you choose... because its too inconvenient... or costly to fix.... but to get shitty about someone identifying it is not the correct response. Love the mower moment. Its the world normal people live in. As I'm sat in bed with my coffee trying to listen to this .. Jen has decided to sit on the bed and use an epillator on her legs!! 😂

[@squizz4395]

You need to know this….. your honesty is one of the main reasons I watch you mate(also you make me laugh hard enough sometimes I do little wee’s). Stay true mate and hopefully companies start to realise how shit they are sometimes, it just sucks how much it affects you as you need to make money too…. But to me, you are invaluable with your reviews and ethics…. Stay rad mate

[@vasotoe]

Love these rants and always appreciate you being genuinely honest and knowledgeable Henning, looking forward to see you soon!

[@guitargas1894]

What she said 👆🏻

[@andrewmorgan1640]

That’s what she said

[@PedalPlayhouse]

That’s what she said 😂 and agreed! Looking forward to seeing as well ❤

[@diesonne0127]

I don´t know if I agree on your Fender decision. Are the company decisions really your business? Where does this end? If you think they have not enough women in the company, is it your task to say that in a guitar review video? And if they have not enough Mexican people, you have to mention that? If they have a CEO who got divorced in a ugly way, you have to mention that? You just don´t know if they fired the people to save the company. I think you could be modest about that. Your videos are great though!

[@normanvannorden]

Your honesty and transparency, knowledge and last but not least your humor is why I keep coming back to your channel. keep up the good work!

[@Hugh_Jaynus_00]

That is your decision to not work with Fender. Why even talk to them in the first place? If you don’t agree with their company decisions, no need to take their money and “be honest”. If you do the vid even with the honest note (that goes beyond the product review), I would imagine that would be against your integrity. At least for me, it would. I do like your honesty and thorough reviews. Clothes…not so much. :)

[@ikestoddard2458]

I come to your channel first. It always shows honesty. Your ethics are beyond reproach. I do not understand the stupidity of others who criticize you. Please tell the vendors who call you that your readers consider your reports top of the heap. The extortion of vendors must be brought out into the light. You are the first channel that I will support when I get a job.

[@mariannewijnensanderdekr-me5cm]

Reviewing something positively, that is badly designed is in the end also bad for the brand. Stay honest, should works in everybodies favor.

[@andyross4868]

I've been watching you for a long time now and you always struck me as being honest and straight as they come , I have bought gear you've recommended and have never been disappointed or felt you have steered me wrong , keep on doing what you do !

[@JTB--]

Henning is one of the few on YT with Integrity. Most of the others are just shilling for the company even if it's a crap product. We salute you!! 🍻

[@Twy7chTec_Vayper]

Yours and couple other gear (Studio stuff too!) I actually take seriously buddy. Also, been playing Guitar 🎸 for 24+ years (Tech too), the school of learning I knew was pretty much "honest" was when you'd hear two musicians, wheather it be a guitar or bass player and they'd be yelling outside of a show (either ready to load in or loading out) comparing amp heads, cabs, instruments etc 😂😂😂 It was sooo damn funny, but they'd laugh at the end. Meanwhile, you were thinking 🤔 I never thought of that brand or brands lol THAT WAS reviews back in 2001-2003 and it was great That's what I love about this channel 😁 If everyone just wants happy go lucky reviews (you've stated this numerous times in MANNYYY vids) there's plenty of those kinds of channels. Nothing wrong with making a living promoting a product that you'd use lol Pretty sure the ones complaining would do the same thing if offered, but these/those kinds of folks are the types that complain to breathe lol Keep up the amazing work buddy Horns and Hails 🤘🏻 from Arizona!!

[@alfonsobonzo3782]

A person on this platform with integrity, is a rare thing. Thank you for your honesty.

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

26:20 "I need to work with brands to keep the channel going." This is why I stopped making content. I came to this platform when content was independent, but at this point if you don't have something to sell, the algorithm buries you. I just wanted to make music.

[@RichardsGuitarshop]

Change the word "INFLUENCER" to "DEALER" and.... Welcome to my World! Its soooooo lovely to hear your voice - it could be me speaking to my audience - and with regards to the haters...... It took me a long time to really understand this but if you know in your heart you are being honest and true - and you know people are listening BECAUSE they understand your best intentions - then the people who want to hate (who always have the loudest voices) are reflecting THEIR own cynicism - their negativity - their bad lives. People who are damaged, cannot see beyond their own life experiences so you have to completely detach yourself. from their problems. To be hurt by them is no more than damaged ego. So let go of your ego - their opinions cannot hurt you if you dont care - because the people who you DO care about - they are all that really matter to you. You cannot get people on side - whose problems are NOT YOU. See what I mean? Same with race, religion, gender - all hate - the recipient of hate isolates the issue to them - because they are being hurt in the moment but in reality the problem is the damage thats already been done to THEM - they are damaged and you have to say to yourself "I feel really bad for that guy/girl - They are a victim and its sad their life has made them feel this way". - But there is no more you can do for them and worrying about your own hurt isnt going to help them in any way - and unless youre a trained councilor, sadly you cant take on the Worlds problems - so keep you head down - be true to you - with the knowledge that its your integrity got you the interview with Petr :) One last thing! SO much I could talk about but will keep it to influencers..... The other day I saw TWO (one male - one female) BOTH create videos - very similar - both recommending a brand of guitar that can ONLY be bought online - direct. My heart sank. It was SO blindingly obvious that these two influencers had sold their soul for profit and once again people who I considered the "honest" ones were no more than exactly as youve described. So it shows how difficult it is these days to believe anything you see onlibe. If I cannot trrust the ones I thought I could trust..... but what I will say on a positive note...... The fact there are SO FEW people whether they be dealers - suppliers - influencers - manufactuers.- there are SO FEW who I believe have a true heart - a phylosophy that really is about the product being the best - driven by pride - not profit - that people who ARE different - shine brighter than ever before. Honestly - 29 years and I could count people who I trust on .... well it MAY run to two hands.

[@Dr.NoahHope]

Honesty is still the best policy and thats why I watch your reviews first. Your reviews of the products I have bought have been spot on in most cases, I know im not being lied to . Keep up the good work Henning !

[@andrewmorgan1640]

“Man dressed as rubber duck yells at balcony” follow me for more marketing ideas.

[@finintuk]

The balcony chats are the best!

[@PooNinja]

🤘🏽

[@resington]

I never understood Relish guitars either. Looked terrible. Ridiculous spec that made no sense.

[@charlesdavis5942]

I subscribed to your channel and watch your videos because of your honesty and I purchase items on your input and you haven’t failed me yet I appreciate that

[@alexdenton6586]

I love your honesty; it's one of the reasons I follow you for an unbiased opinion on gear. That being said, I love how you dress. It's so German, like Birkenstocks with socks. Do you wear Birkenstocks with socks?

[@EytschPi42]

I do not

[@FilippoCardelli]

Honesty always pays. Maximum respect for your commitment and work! in transmitting sound principles.

[@mark.guitar]

Some people just blurt stuff out. They always have and they always will. It makes them feel valid. You, Henning, have a good heart. That makes you a target for their twisted view of validation. The less upright portion of the musicstuffweb are living up to the historically cash driven ethics because they can't see another way of making a living.

[@ashleyscracemusic]

Well, I'd rather be honest and 'lose' out, than lie and win. I feel you're of a similar belief. Good on you. Also, I only stumbled upon this channel a few months back, as I wondered if I was a qualified enough guitarist to be understood here. I'm so glad I stuck around. Bought a Harley Benton Super Strat after your showing of it, and have not looked back. You built that trust. Thank you.

[@NihilQuest]

You're discovering the ABC of journalism. People who create content can't be in contact or be influenced with people who pay for advertisements. That's why every respectable newspaper has a different team for it. Hard to do when you do gear reviews but there's no solution to it other, than relay on your viewers paying for everything that is an actual, independent review. And if it's just advertisement, you mark it as advertisement, loud and clear, and it doesn't have to have any credibility. The idea of taking money for the review from the company and being honest is just bonkers and you're now realizing why. It can't work.

[@AkaSnugD]

Honesty is such a lonely word, everyone is so untrue

[@jasonl1942]

It's hardly ever heard...

[@nowave7]

QC is hard... Costs a lot of money and time. I'ts easier to just use your users as beta testers. Unfortunately this is not exclusively a problem of music industry, it's literally all over the place. And the worst thing about it is that the companies get away with it. And the more they see they can get away with that sort of crap, the more they will do it. It didn't use to be like that, but it has now become the norm. Louis Rossmann talks a lot about it, and there is some pushback, but it will take time, a whole lotta time till we get any measurable effect. But it's important to talk about it. And you're being too nice here Hening, especially to companies that essentially blacklisted you, you still don't mention their names. Too nice, I tell you... :)

[@ciddax754]

Thanks you for your honesty and integrity. I really hope in the end, this works out for you. Yes, you will loose more companies in the future, but WE know, what not to buy. A hyped product mysteriously missing on your channel, has to have some flaws.

[@casim1917]

This is why I trust and admire you so much.

[@Paul_Lenard_Ewing]

You did the Friedman IR-D Pre-Amp. Many reviewed it but none went out of their way to show it could literally replace a Plexi. Yes they suggested it in a broad way but not by showing a comparison with the real deal. Many of us for good reasons still have are gigging a half stack. I am 77 and if nothing else a very small injury loading in my a Plexi into a club could make it impossible to do the gig. Not only would I be without the money and literally money for groceries I would lose any chance of further bookings. Your reviews are important to more than the hobbyist that is buying a guitar one week and a golf club the next. THANX

[@kennethc2466]

Well, you can have paid sponsors, or 100% honesty, never both. ANYONE working with advertisers know this. YOU KNOW THIS. You make a living promoting corporate products. Please don't act like you're an unpaid commenter, who pays for all your own equipment out of pocket. You live better than most welders and machinists I know, by advertising corporate products. This does not come with a, "say what ever you want about the $4000 amp we just gave you" clause. EVER. It's quite the opposite, as the instructions the marketing departments give you states.

[@EytschPi42]

I get no instructions and if I did I would laugh at them.

[@kennethc2466]

@@EytschPi42 Yes, you do. No marketing department gives out money/products with nothing attached, and no terms. But hey, please pretend you'll get paid by releasing a video before the ADVERTISER EMBARGO's time is met, that you're CONTRACTUALLY obligated to. Please say this openly, so everyone can see for themselves, that you lied to me, in a ridiculous way. PS, the law. "An advertising contract is a legally binding agreement between advertisers and publishers. They typically include details about the content of the advertisement, how long it will be displayed for, who has the rights to publish the advertisement, and its cost." But hey, please tell me you do NONE of this, and get corporation's checks/products without it. I dare ya.

[@CraigFlowersMusic]

Wow I've spent nearly a decade trying to get my wife to mow even once lol

[@PooNinja]

😂

[@mylogify]

24:58 yet another proof Henning doesn't like Fuzz'es 😂😂😂

[@Marius_1985]

Katana mini?

[@santana1002001]

I hope you are strong enough to stay honest! My self lost a big business because oh honesty..........but it was worth it.........I still can look in the morrow and say I did the right thing. Stay strong!

[@muttonjeff105]

Never surrender your integrity, it is only yours to lose not for anyone else to take away. You are one of my go to channels for that reason. The good will out, eventually, these companies will realise that channels that are trusted by their viewers are the ones that attract the long term sales. Sad, but this is what happens when non-musicians get involved in music and corporations become too big to care anymore.

[@GreenBlueWalkthrough]

Honestly as a online creative "Not liking critique" shouldn't be understandable... It's how bad products stay bad and good enough product get worse over time as the industry evolves... Like how my stuff grows is though feed back positive or negative... How I'gve become the why I am as a creative is though feedback... So really if a company does not like feedback that company is being childish and should not be worth your time as press.

[@davidneily3532]

Integrity and brutal honesty is part of why I love your channel. You've save me thousand of dollars on what would have been bad buying decisions. The haters obviously haven't watch your channel long enough to know they are talking about. I do have to question your wardobe choices (kidding). Keep the truth coming, we luv ya man!

[@PippPriss]

Dann mach' hinne, es regnet bald! My favorite part of the video! 😀 But in all honesty, fantastic talking points and very concisely explained, with respect paid to the subject!

[@persiguiendoeltono]

After watching this video, may I assume you don't like slick guitars? I was looking for a review of this brand in your channel but nothing, so maybe you returned a slick guitar and made no video ?? Cheers from buenos aires. Big fan.

[@Case_]

Man sitting on a balcony talking to a camera yells at his wife mowing lawn in the background to stop disturbing him 😅 Jokes aside, regarding the Fender thing, if they really stopped responding to e-mails one day with no explanation, then I'd say they're *not* in their right to do so. That's a childish and very unprofessional way to treat someone. Doubly so if it was in response of simply stating facts.

[@ithemba]

really really appreciate this kind of talk and information. especially the fender part really gave me perspective. you being the only guy on all of big youtube gear land (maybe beside of glenn who often also talks labour and manifacturing) makes me come back gladly to these kind of rants.

[@LonelyRocker]

Great Rant (Story). Got me thinking of a lyric from one of my favourite Rush songs "The most endangered species, the honest man". The word "honesty" is a hotly contested word these days. With many living in different realities how do we define honesty? We do it in believing what we do. We can't control what everyone thinks. Keep doing your thing. Our industry needs you....

[@internetmoney221]

I watch your channel because you are trustworthy in your judgement about products

[@JackTaylorGuitars]

I'd rather have one dude like you who tells us exactly what you think than a hundred massive channels omitting details for a paycheck man. I know that doesn't help with your time lost but I hope you know you're respected hugely in this space.

[@BradsGuitarGarage]

It's getting so bad, mate. The marketing dollars always win. And it's very sad. The general public has no idea and the companies do their best to cover it up. The few voices out there that are honest get drowned out. And those that do hear them are skeptical as the fake positive reviews are flooding the internet.

[@raw.relentless.resonance]

DuckHoodie = Proof of Truth! Honesty doesn't get you paid but loved. Best channel around! Love from Hofheim am Taunus 🤘❤

[@999blodwyn]

Keep being honest. We wouldnt want you any other way. You are known for your honesty and your reviews are more valuable to us for that. Chin up, you are being true to your morals. Those that throw criticism at you are taunting you, dont let em win x

[@bomret]

Ich finde es wirklich extrem gut, dass du einen ethischen Standpunkt in deinen Geschäftsbeziehungen hast und das auch offen kommuniziert. Lass dich bitte von den „Payed Shill“-Kommentaren nicht unterkriegen. 🤘

[@NCWEBM]

👍🏻 - Da schließe ich mich an!

[@RsSquier51]

27:04 they don't want the truth, that's why they don't hire people that will tell them they fucked up.

[@forkless]

You don't get to KEEP 178,000 subscribers by being dishonest and shill just for the sake of money. ...but hey, what do I know.

[@EytschPi42]

you don't even have a fork, so what do you know?

[@landonbailey]

you are so ducked!

[@agnawkneemoose6373]

One of these videos was informative, but this is getting to be too much. Review gear - or don't, but listening to someone endlessly complain about their job and the state of the industry... that's something we do for friends and family to be supportive. It isn't great content. Without any specifics, as a consumer, I don't know what I'm supposed to do with this.

[@robertskinner5498]

There’s a new modern piece of technology, that a whole heap of people don’t know about. It’s called CHANGE THE CHANNEL, it’s very simple, very unused technology!!!😎🎸🤘

[@EytschPi42]

Then please just don’t watch these videos and watch the reviews… there are more than enough of them. For some reason these videos are interesting to people and they get way more clicks than anything else I do. So even though I would agree with you, most viewers consider it great content, just not for you and that is totally fine.

[@agnawkneemoose6373]

@@EytschPi42 That's fair. I'll stick to the reviews. Just my honest feedback.

[@edryba4867]

FOR SHAME, FENDER! Firing 300 people while having a great financial year? There is no excuse for that!! Of my 16 guitars, only ONE is a Fender, and there WILL NOT BE ANY MORE!! My Strat is a 1999 MEXICO-made guitar which I bought new, and it’s great… after I had to substitute a few QUALITY parts, as opposed to the CRAP it came with. And I had to play 11 of them before I could find a “good” one, at one of the big guitar chains (which shall remain nameless here - they used to be good, too, but they now SUCK). After replacing the tuning machines with QUALITY tuning machines, replacing the stock bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan, getting the fret glue off the fingerboard… you get the idea. I bought it though, knowing I’d have to do some work (and invest MONEY in it) TO MAKE IT GOOD ENOUGH TO BE THE PROFESSIONAL IT SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE FIRST PLACE! Once upon a time, you could buy a Fender Strat and know the first one you picked up & played would be GOOD. This is obviously no longer the case. So BEWARE when you buy a Fender. You CAN’T count on it being the quality instrument the name on it once told implied. I’ve played a number of American-made Strats in the years since 1999, and it’s shocking how much their quality has gone downhill. This leaves me with a question. WHERE IS YOUR QUALITY CONTROL, FENDER? With the outrageous prices you charge for your “iffy” instruments, you still do BAD things, such as FIRING people by the hundreds and sell what was ONCE a guaranteed GOOD product. Gretsch, on the other hand, in my experience, are very good to great. But they should be, given the $5,000 price tag! If you didn’t know, Gretsch is made by Fender JAPAN. If THEY can make consistently good instruments, why can’t YOU, Fender USA? Even my Indonesian-made Gretsch Streamliner, which I bought from my friendly LOCAL music store (which doesn’t even carry Gretsch - I asked the store owner to get me one from his Fender representative) is a VERY good guitar. And it arrived being EXACTLY what I specified! It wasn’t cheap, but it wasn’t outrageous, either. It plays great, sounds great, and feels like an American Gretsch that was made in the early 1960’s. Instead of making insane profits on bad guitars, why not make them GOOD? Did you forget how? I wonder. However, I DON’T wonder if Fender’s days are numbered. They are.

[@thomasj.loebel9809]

HONESTY DOESN'T GET YOU PAID while lies bring you back as a slave.. means Honesty is what escapes return to captivity at this place where honesty is what remains at the second coming of faith.

[@mr_travismc1]

If you have a wife that mows your yard, for heaven's sake.... do NOT interrupt her. As a matter of fact... applaud her... reward her... big hugs and kisses :D and if she weed eats too... she's obviously a keeper. You are sooooooo lucky.

[@zachisebi]

Thanks for your honesty and integrity Henning! We love you for it. My wife is kindly asking you to review more bad products in the future, so I don't blow her shopping money on new gear all the time. Thanks. Also, MACH HIN ES REGNET BALD!

[@RiffsTonesCafe]

Vielen Dank Henning, now I know why you did not review the Fender Tone Master Pro and I do agree 100% with you although I love Fender products (I own a Tone Master Pro). You're the only influencer that made me buy quite a lot of products (except the TMP of course). Once again thanks for your videos and your ethical behavior. Greetings, Chris.

[@richardwatson7480]

So...Henning...this was more of heart-felt talk and barely a rant at all (I remember you ranting FAR harder about important things like stickers around the tone knob on the Hb35+ instead of little bits of paper...😇). I think that you laid it out pretty clearly between your own integrity or 'toeing the company line'. Of course it's easy for all of us to say "be honest and be damned", but it sounds to me like you've already made your choice. So now you need to make that into YOUR own thing. first off, I really enjoy your videos and your humour, and I've always felt that you gave a good review of a guitar. I think it's really good that you spell out your policy /pay / gift system and really bring it out in the open. I like that approach. Too small to make real waves, well you mentioned other people who worked like you...get yourselves organised (might not need to go as calling yourselves 'The Justice League ' but you have a strong niche here. BUYERS really appreciate hearing the truth. That truly breeds loyalty. Don't forget that you have many many loyal fans, maybe there are other things tgat they would like from you, and that you would enjoy doing with/for them. Uckioy, we live in a direct communication age...just ask us!! Brands are scrambling to try to have access to us like you do. Ask us what we would pay for from you! Maybe you'll find a whole new world that you enjoy as much or more. My 2 cents on your videos, you are such a good player tgat I can barely identify with you as a player (can't fault you for that :) AND i much prefer hearing cheap guitars through cheap(ish) amps ... expensive stuff just doesn't resonate with me(because I'll never have or want it). Anyway, i much appreciate what you do.

[@Topnotchguitars1]

Henning, I am not sure how old you are but in the late 1970;s there was just about the same situation between the German Magazine, Music Fachblatt and Musik Mayer. I still have the print version and if you are interested, I can scan them for you. Basically Fachblatt done a review of a Gibson and Fender and gave it a 5, Ibanez and Aria scored 1or 2. Mayer refused to give more products for review to the Fachblatt. The back and force was a sensation at the times, you would love it . The media has changed, the core subject is the same.

[@caseylee12]

Re: Fender laying off workers. Companies don't understand why they're employees aren't loyal to them. It's because corporations aren't loyal to they employees. Be loyal to YOURSELF and to your FAMILY! That doesn't mean you have to walk out the door today, but it does mean you can look around to see what's out there, because companies are hungry for good people. Do what's best for you and your family!

[@MoKoLoKo37]

You can't eat ethics and honesty... BUT You have a million of reviews of all kind of equipment, if there's a company which launches a new guitar/amp/whatever and you don't review it, everyone which trust you and your policy of "I won't review something horrible" will guess if Henning haven't reviewed publicly if could be an awful product... especially if another channels review it in a positive way. Just a little food for thought, stay strong, your values make you valuable ;)

[@PreacherAtArrakeen]

If you're dependent upon YT for your income, I suggest you diversify your efforts . There is a general consensus these days on musician BBSes that people who do what you do are not completely trustworthy due to the conflict of interest. I bought an X3 Plethora pedal because of one of your vids, and I hated it. I found it uninspiring and too digital. So, when someone asked on V.I. Control 'do you trust YT influencers?' most people said 'no.' Including me. Once upon a time, there was this platform called YT. Then Google bought it, and over the years it's become more and more corporitized (?) and monetized. I've seen vids by another YT guy who said that the company he was shilling for expected editorial oversight and if he said something they didn't like he could be sued. So, I'm sure you're a decent person, but I approach whatever you say with the same scepticism that I do anyone else. Anytime money gets thrown into a mix, it ruins things. So, too, with YT.

[@markospolar1577]

Hi Henning, the whistleblowers usually take all the heat... That's life. But on the other hand, usually the world thanks them. So thank you! :) No, really: thank you! And I really don't understand why companies (read: people) refuse to work with you after you show the shortcomings of their products. After all, you are doing them a favor. I am a computer programmer and when a software tester says I messed something up, we have a debate on why it is wrong and how to fix it. Then I fix it and say "Thank you", because now the software is better and we are all better off. It's called "team work". I really don't understand how companies still don't understand this. Their loss, not yours. I hope you'll stay true to yourself and your audience. Thanks again, M

[@rockoutmichigan]

The best policy(honesty) brought you 178K+ subs. Hope that number grows...

[@nedludd3641]

Suppose you make a product and turn out 10,000 units in Asia. You are already facing a downturn and possible job cuts. Then someone on YT points out a minor but fundamental design flaw. You can't change it: too late. 10,000 units are being shipped across the World. I guess I'd be frightened and annoyed because of the review. Not saying that's right or that that's good. Just saying how the World is I guess. Even retooling to fix the flaw on future units might wipe out profits

[@VoxJ]

Just looked up who demoed Relish Guitars on youtube and thought they where insanely great.... (revealing)

[@the4thway51]

Well done, totaly believable ! (and your sweatshirts are truly shocking). A negative review on Amazon just barred me from making any further comments on future purchases. You Tube removed the Thumbs Down symbol. Thoman and some other music gear retailers have filtered out many of the bad reviews. So... lets all just smile, drink a coca cola . But seriously , this is a symton af an ever increasing Autocratic World.

[@charlesharper7292]

"paid shill" comments. Imagine going through life being so damn pessimistic. Sucks to be them. Thanks Henning! 🇺🇸⚔️🍕🍺👍👍🤠

[@latheofheaven1017]

Henning, it's deeply ironic that you are working with companies and beta-testing their prodicts for literally less than nothing. They don't pay you for your experience and valuable time, and they obviously don't pay you for reviews you don't give. For what it's worth, you have my trust.

[@justice100forwin2]

These companies are getting constructive criticism , from you , which is making there product a better product ( if they are wise enough to listen to you ) , and they don't even pay you for your time and valuable opinion...shocking!! It's a real shame that so many " influencers " put money before integrity. I really don't get why these companies can't accept one voice among many on YT being honest? Often you might only be making a small suggestion like " the tuners are not great , I would change them if you buy this " , these days we guitarists almost expect our new guitars to have the odd issue as we cannot try before we buy. We keep being told we have never had it so good in the guitar world and that might be true when it comes to budget or mid- price guitars but once we get to £ 1500 + do you think quality control is as good as it was in the 90's Henning??? Anyways , stay true to yourself and keep being honest...then we know the products you do show , although guitars can be subjective at least meet the standard of their price point and are worth taking a look at!

[@misterknightowlandco]

When I watch a review, idc about the sound. That sounds wrong but if I’m being honest I say that because 90% of us, myself included, are listening on a phone. A phone speaker, cannot replicate the sound of a guitar in the room. It just can’t. Even if it could, whatever the review is for, isn’t coming through the rest of my rig so it wouldn’t sound the same anyway. I watch reviews for 3 reasons. 1. The comment section and getting to chat with other players. It’s fun. 2. I watch the body language of the reviewer. That’s how you tell if it’s good. If they look like they’re enjoying it or engaged in it then it probably doesn’t suck. 3. I watch videos do when they play for fun and see what they play when they’re playing for fun. For example, Shane at in the blues, when he tries a new amp he always plays his white American vintage ii 57 Strat or that American original Tele with the Joe harden pickups he’s had forever. That tells me if I want to buy a Strat… that’s the Strat to buy which I did and he’s right. I love it too.

[@akwamarsunzal]

Here´s my take on some things.... Music store video, its marketing, it can be a great video, a fin video, but they want to sell you shit. There is a handful of KZbinrs who are clearly being paid a chunk of money to give a great review, even though the product may not be the best, and you can see it in their lack of conviction. I always watch product videos, I ma nor may not need it/want it..... But, If its something shiny and new and I really want it, I will watch every single video out there, music stores, shills (sorry), small channels who picked something up that looked good and THEN I will search for a video from Henning! If there isnt a video, then I will wait, no rush, until there is a Henning review. I have bought 3 or 4 products based ONLY on a Henning review, yes, I watched a gazillion other videos but, if Henning says its good, I will get it! If Henning says, meh, its ok, thechances are, I won´t get it, its not complicated!

[@kingzulu5484]

I watched your videos occasionally. Now I'm going to watch regularly.

[@gabrielr4329]

You should charge a consultation fee for subpar products you’re not willing to review, $200 per hour, 2 hrs minimum. No free feedback on how to improve products.

[@lilian896]

If Fender gave a shit people wouldn't be fired over night! Fender also stopped supporting my favorite family owned music store because they didn't sell enough Fenders. I'd buy a Dean tele style guitar, but never a Fender. Thanks for honesty!❇

[@tanguydelooz2881]

You could start a "honest review" label, shared with selected "honest" KZbinrs, that consumers would want to look for. Then brands would send for review the products they're confident in, knowing that label would have great marketing value. All reviewed products with that label would have be approved by the label first but that approval would come from a group of judges, thus not just based on the opinion of 1 person.

[@strumminronin]

... such a loney word! Nah, going by the comments, we love you just the way you are. (Sorry!) Seriously, I have been wondering about something similar, about being honourable, being fair, not having double standards and such like. It's not easy! And those who want to cloak themselves with those values, but are complete beasts behind closed doors? Well, they don't like it and things can get ugly, and more often than not, who gets it in the kiester? The one who speaks the truth.

[@northeast2846]

I have a Boss HM-2 and a KMA Guardian of the Wurm in stereo configuration as the main component of my "tone" and I still subscribe and watch.

[@danbaron2561]

I don't think you are not honest. 👍 👍 👍 🙂 (And I saw at the end, that you love animals - so do I. 👍 👍 👍 🙂 (Of course, as you know, we are just as much animals, as the cow you were petting. 👍 👍 👍 🙂))

[@peterhughes8699]

I have a different take.... In 2024 there's generally nothing that will potentially ruin anyone's career (and therefore ability to be paid) more than being honest. There are a few exceptions, however, and Henning is one of them. Thru continual social conditioning most people don't expect anyone to be honest in 2024. Very few people are honest in fact. Most people expect others to be as dishonest as they are.....and most are. There's also a large (and growing) minority who no longer know what honesty is. They can't recognise it as anything real and don't believe it when they see it... Hard but fair imo :)

[@Mark_B585]

You have ethics and you call out what is wrong. Honesty is a gift

[@Mak_Trvln_SLP]

Sorry if you're still catching nonsense from viewers. Again, I come here because, you're fun to watch, very informative and your tunes/mixes sound awesome. Keep doing you sir!

[@DanielC__]

Already had great respect for your work and now it’s even more. Makes me feel better that you stand behind your principles although im sorry you’re losing money because of it. Hopefully you will make it up with A+ companies vs these unscrupulous jerks. Cheers mate…

[@matsnermark5603]

I spent 30+ years reviewing musical product for guitar magazines as a freelance writer and I have had similar experiences and discussions. But, as you say, it's part of the job. But it always hurt when people accused me of being a paid shill promoting whatever for financial gain.

[@andrewking7919]

Notice to all amp/guitar makers. If Henning gives something the thumbs Up I will buy it. If Henning says it is bad I will not buy it. If Henning has never reviewed or been given something to review I wont be buying it. Basically, Be nice to Henning or you lose customers.

[@georgewarner3507]

When I’m researching gear to buy I always check for a product video from you. If you’ve done a video at least I know the product is good, from there I just need to know if it has the features I need. So just keep doing what you’re doing, brother. Lots of us appreciate it.

[@Chris-yq7xv]

I can’t seem to get my head around why people think you and any other KZbinr doesn’t get paid for doing product reviews?! Are your cameras free, is your lighting equipment free, is your time editing these vlogs free? I think the confusion is that if you get paid to do a “positive“ review you’re selling out to the company. I think your subscriber base understands this is a job and compensation allows you to continue your endeavors. The people that think you’re a sellout is minuscule and you waste too much time addressing them. I think you should start realizing that those individuals are “tomato plants” as they have the same IQ. There is nothing that will change their primitive thinking. Chris

[@Qemetiel]

You and Glenn are the only guys on YT I trust for reviews. Please, PLEASE, ignore the naysayers. You're so far above it.

[@ralphhathaway-coley5460]

I would think the majority of the 'paid shill' comments are from the 'Its not fair, you get all this free cool stuff for doing just 45 minute vid, that's not real work, and I cannot afford to buy it for myself!' keyboard warrior type, also there are the ridiculously partisan types that support a (usually) 'big brand' company and no one else knows how to build guitars or related stuff. Please don't let it get you down/affect your mental health, as it easily could, we appreciate your honesty and approach, as many of these things are down to personal tastes and an unbiased review with good sound samples, gives us a sporting chance of coming to our own opinions as to whether that product is suitable for us based on what you, and others, share. Then there is , as Glenn always says, 'the guitarists who listen with their eyes!' brigade.

[@MAX96MENDES]

- Film trailer“- In the shadows of the night, secrets lurk and mysteries unfold. Prepare to be captivated by a spine-chilling tale of suspense, where every twist and turn will keep you guessing. Enter a world where trust is shattered, and danger lurks at every corner. Can you handle the truth ? ”

[@giancarlodileo1345]

As I see it reviews regardless of the outcome is a luxury Henning does not have. He would probably p..s off even more companies and being left with almost no jobs. The only way I am seeing him working like this is if a part of us would finance him with only a couple of bucks every month (patreon). This would give him independence and the ability to review even those faulty products. As for now his reviews show you al least a positive selection of products.